West Point Sergeant Accused of Spying on Female Cadets

By Abby Ohlheiser

May 23, 2013

An Army Sergeant employed at West Point Military Academy has been charged with secretly filming female cadets in the school's showers and locker rooms.

Unlike the other three cases of alleged sexual misconduct by military leadership reported just this month, Sgt. 1st Class Michael McClendon doesn't appear to have been in charge of a military program specifically designed to prevent sexual harassment. But, McClendon, as a "tactical noncommissioned officer" at the academy, was “responsible for the health, welfare and discipline” of about 125 cadets, according to army documents obtained by the New York Times, which first reported the story. The army is reaching out to around a dozen women who may have been targeted, according to the paper's report.

McClendon, a combat veteran in Iraq (where he was awarded a Bronze Star), has been transferred out of West Point while the allegations are investigated. It looks like the Sergeant is facing four separate charges for indecent acts, dereliction of duty, cruelty and maltreatment, and violations of good order and discipline. He's worked at the academy since 2009. Read the rest at TheAtlanticWire.com.